Imphal, Jan. 12: Manipur’s human rights crusader Irom Sharmila Chanu today met a troupe of political leaders in her security ward, who came to show solidarity in to her fight against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

A five-member delegation of the Opposition Manipur Peoples Party (MPP), led by its president Leishangthem Chandramani Singh, visited Sharmila this afternoon at her security ward at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal East.

Former Union minister of state for youth affairs and sports Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, party legislators Okram Joy Singh, R.K. Anand Singh and N. Bijoy Singh, were the other members of the delegation.

The Sajiwa Jail authorities allowed the visit after Sharmila sought permission to meet the members of the Manipur Assembly.

An official source said she wrote to the jail authorities on October 31 last year to allow the MLAs to come and meet her. No one can meet Sharmila without permission as she is in judicial custody.

The MPP is the first political party to meet her in a group .

“Ibemma (sister), Happy New Year. We came to fulfil your wish of meeting the MLAs. We extend our support to your fight,” R.K. Anand Singh said on entering the room.

Sharmila received them with a smile. “Please do something for the development of Manipur,” she told the delegation.